Journal Article
Role Modeling, Risk and Resilience in California Adolescents (Journal of Adolescent Health)
Published Date: January 01, 2011
Using data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, the authors studied the relationship between role model presence, type of role model, and various health-risk and health-protective behaviors among California adolescents.
Fifty-nine percent of adolescents identified a role model. Affluent teens were more likely to have a role model than lower income teens. Role models were generally of the same ethnicity and gender as the teens; ethnic congruence was higher among African Americans and whites than Latinos and Asians; gender congruence was higher among males. Type of role model was significantly associated with health-related behaviors. Identification of a teacher was strongly associated with positive health behaviors. Correlations with health-promoting behaviors were generally smaller in magnitude but consistently positive among family member and athlete role models. Peer or entertainer role models were associated with health-risk behaviors.
Not only role model presence but also the type of role model is an important predictor of adolescent health-related behaviors. Their findings have implications for designing youth-targeted interventions and policies involving role models.
Publication Authors:
Fifty-nine percent of adolescents identified a role model. Affluent teens were more likely to have a role model than lower income teens. Role models were generally of the same ethnicity and gender as the teens; ethnic congruence was higher among African Americans and whites than Latinos and Asians; gender congruence was higher among males. Type of role model was significantly associated with health-related behaviors. Identification of a teacher was strongly associated with positive health behaviors. Correlations with health-promoting behaviors were generally smaller in magnitude but consistently positive among family member and athlete role models. Peer or entertainer role models were associated with health-risk behaviors.
Not only role model presence but also the type of role model is an important predictor of adolescent health-related behaviors. Their findings have implications for designing youth-targeted interventions and policies involving role models.
Publication Authors:
- David Grant, PhD
- Samantha Kurosky
- Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz
- Ritesh Mistry